WAKE UP CALL FOR WINCHESTER
Winchester travelled to Bognor in the first match of the season hoping to gain promotion after going so close in the past three seasons finishing 2nd, 3rd and 2nd respectively, (writes Dai Henley). However, with no less than six debutants in the selected squad due to injuries, some serious, it was always going to be a difficult task.
A pre-match mix-up with the laundry found Winchester wearing an assortment of numbers on their backs. This proved a suitable metaphor for an understandable disjointed performance as they showed few glimpses of last season’s form.
It was made more difficult, when, in the first minute, Winchester and Hampshire centre, Alex Maudsley, went of with a shoulder injury. Mason Baird, recently signed from Havant, replaced him
Newly-promoted Bognor scored first, following a lightening break by centre, Connor Herrington, who created the space for winger, Charlie Spray to go over out wide. The conversion sailed wide.
Bognor continued to play, fast and wide, but Winchester’s defence held firm with strong tackling from captain, Tom Fieldsend, (taking over from the 250-capped injured Matt Golding) and flankers, George Ward and Connor Fury.
With 25 minutes gone, Winchester finally clicked, winning a five-metre scrum from which Fieldsend squeezed over the Bognor tryline and converted to put Winchester in the lead against the run of play. 5-7.
The lead was short-lived. Winchester failed to find touch with a clearing kick and the ball was spun swiftly by the speedy Bognor backs resulting in a try for centre Connor Herrington. Again, the conversion was missed leaving the score at 10-7 to Bognor.
Six minutes later, Bognor scored, following an interception by Bognor’s winger, Freddie Hayes. Again the conversion was missed. Just before half-time, Winchester’s second-rower, Ben Turner, was yellow-carded for a high tackle. Then Winchester won a penalty. Fieldsend cooly converted bringing the score to 15-10.
After the break, Bognor stepped up their intensity and took full advantage of Winchester’s reduced number, scoring two excellent tries following breaks by their speedy back division, now oozing confidence. Only one of the tries was converted, bringing the score to 27-10.
Winchester gave away a penalty under their posts for an easy three points for Bognor. Then Winchester’s Baird was yellow-carded reducing them to 14 men again. A minute later, Winchester scored when Fieldsend squeezed over Bognor’s tryline following a twenty- metre dash. His conversion attempt missed, bringing the score to 30-15.
In Winchester’s best spell of the match, they scored again with a well-worked try, spinning the ball wide to Fury from a tapped penalty five metres out. Fury held his nerve and made the touchdown. Fieldsend successfully converted.
With the score 30-22 and ten minutes left on the clock, Winchester’s supporters dreamed of an unlikely victory against all the odds. But it was not to be. Despite pressing Bognor’s line, the home side held firm.
After the match, Winchester’s coach, Chris Searle said, ‘Despite our current injury crisis, we expected to win so we are disappointed with the result. We came back well in the last ten minutes, so that’s something we can build on. Full credit to Bognor who deserved to win.’
